Head On Collision Claim *

Head on Collision Claim *

A head-on collision * occurs when the front of one vehicle crashes into either the front of another vehicle or a stationary object. Head on crashes * not only cause injury to people but can also cause property damage and have an impact on those in the area.

Road accident claims * are made through the Injuries Board, for those who have suffered a head-on collision and are pursuing a claim *, submitting the claim to the Injuries Board will be an important first step.

Who is liable?

In some cases, it can be difficult to prove liability in an accident especially when you were involved in the accident as you may not remember the event leading up to it. In cases where a driver hit a stationary object then it may be easy to prove who was at fault but when two vehicles collide with each other may be difficult to prove who was actually liable for the accident. If the other driver was at fault you must be able to prove that they did not follow the rules of the road which led to the cause of the accident. There are certain things that should be taken into consideration when you are trying to prove who was at fault.

Were there any witnesses present at the time?

Was there a clear cause of the accident?

Did either driver make any obvious mistakes or rule breakages?

What comments were made by those involved immediately after the incident?

These questions can help you to begin the process of proving liability when you go about making your claim. It may also be helpful to obtain information from the Gardaí who took statements after the collision to see if anything was said to them by other people who were involved.

This is a very serious injury that is sustained when the brain is suddenly traumatised due to impact from a collision. This injury can have a big impact on a person’s cognitive ability and can cause serious long-term problems.

This is a mild traumatic brain injury which is generally associated with a head injury. Concussion may not heal for a long period of time and can cause long-term problems for those injured.

Causes

Driver fatigue

Driver fatigue is a common cause of car accidents, particularly for those driving longer distances or those driving at night. Fatigue can lead to poor reaction times and reflexes while driving and in extreme cases lead to a driver falling asleep at the wheel and causing an accident.

Using a mobile phone while driving

Since 2014 it is illegal to use your mobile phone while driving this includes reading or sending a text message – the only expectation being that a person can use their phone while driving if they are calling 999 or 112 in an emergency situation.

Further to this, it is also illegal to hold or support a mobile phone in your hand or with any other part of your body (for example between your head and shoulder) while driving.

Using hands-free while driving is not illegal but can distract the driver from the road which puts other road users at risk.

Using a mobile phone can cause people to:

Drive outside of their lane

Cause tailgating – reduce the distance between cars

Affect the speed they drive at

Become distracted from the road and their surroundings

Faulty traffic lights

At areas where traffic lights are out of order, drivers use their own judgement as to when it is safe to proceed. At times a person may procceed at the wrong time causing an accident at the lights. Other oncoming cars may not notice this until it is too late, causing multiple accidents.

Failing to stop at a red light

According to the AA’s latest Motor Insurance Poll, 7.6% of drivers in Ireland break red lights at least occasionally. From the motorists polled, 2.2% admitted to putting their foot down when approaching an amber light to make it through before it turns red.

These are common occurrences, but it is not up to other drivers to anticipate these actions. There is a common expectation amongst road users that the rules of the road will be followed. When a person breaks a red light, other road users are put at risk of an accident.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

In most recent stats published by the Health Research Board, Ireland is among the highest alcohol consuming countries in the EU. According to RSA’s most recent report, 38% of all fatalities and other road collisions involved drivers who had consumed alcohol.

Alcohol and drugs impair a person’s driving ability and increase the risk of a collision. People who drive at the legal limit are 6 times more likely to be involved in a collision.

Poor road conditions

Poor or inadequate lighting, faded or non-existent road markings, debris on the road, potholes and broken guardrails can cause accidents and lead to a driver veering off their own lane into oncoming traffic causing head-on collisions.

Failing to obey the rules of the road

There is an universal expectation that all road users will obey the rules of the road, however, there are times when people will ignore these rules and accidents can occur.

Confusion

Confusion on the road can lead to accidents, for example, if a person on holidays in Ireland is not used to the rules of the road or driving on left side of the road, they may become disorientated and cause a collision.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CASE

If you are considering making a claim for a head on collision * or would like to find out more information on the process involved feel free to contact our solicitors on 01 649 9900 or email ask@traceysolicitors.ie.

With over 30 years’ experience, Tracey Solicitors ensure not to overwhelm you with legal jargon and can provide you with legal advice and guidance with your best interest at heart, in a language that you can understand.

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*In contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.

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